LAIKA and Fathom Entertainment Take Legal Action to Stop Wildwood Screenings at L.A.'s Bruin Theatre

LAIKA and Fathom Entertainment said they have taken legal action to stop the Bruin Theatre from showing "Wildwood," the film that reopened the Westwood venue on October 23. The companies told Yahoo that concerns about operator Rui Pereira's history of controversial comments and behavior prompted the move.

LAIKA and Fathom's Bruin Theatre Dispute

The film had been advertised as a week-long run at the newly reopened Bruin. In a joint statement, the animation studio and its theatrical distribution partner said they sought to end screenings over concerns about Pereira as operator. "When LAIKA became aware of the Bruin engagement, we immediately raised concerns with Fathom Entertainment, our theatrical distribution partner. LAIKA and Fathom commenced legal action to end the film's screenings at the theatre," the companies said. They added that they had not yet received confirmation the screenings had stopped and were continuing to explore their options, calling the concerns about the theatre operator incompatible with the values of the two companies.

Screenings of "Wildwood" continued at the Bruin through at least the afternoon of October 25, and the theatre's website still advertised daily showtimes at 1:30 p.m., 4 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. LAIKA and Fathom did not specify what kind of legal action they had taken. Pereira, reached by phone, asked how the publication had obtained a cease-and-desist letter, which it said it had neither received nor reviewed, and said, "You guys are assholes. Everything you have written is false."

The Bruin reopened with "Wildwood" after sitting dark since Regency Theatres departed the space in July 2024. The dispute follows an investigation published September 3 into Pereira's operation of Toronto's Kingsway Theatre, which examined allegations of assault, nonpayment, racial discrimination, online harassment and unauthorized film exhibition, drawing on interviews with more than 25 sources in the U.S. and Canada. Pereira has broadly disputed those allegations. Fathom Entertainment is the domestic theatrical distribution partner for "Wildwood," a role it also filled for a restored Juan Gabriel concert film released in U.S. theaters on September 15, 2026, according to Boxofficepro.

LAIKA's Distribution Model Behind Wildwood

According to akta.pro company records, LAIKA formed dual specialized distribution partnerships in January 2026 with Fathom Entertainment for domestic theatrical release and FilmNation Entertainment for international sales, choosing partner-led distribution over a major-studio output deal. The October 2026 theatrical release of "Wildwood," LAIKA's sixth stop-motion feature, directed by CEO Travis Knight, is the first feature released under that model. LAIKA, founded in 2005 and based in Hillsboro, has received 6 Academy Award nominations across its filmography.

Wildwood's Road to the Bruin

LAIKA submitted "The Better Part of Bravery" from "Wildwood" for the Academy Awards' original song category, performed by The Decemberists, Variety reported in October 2026. Director Travis Knight said at Contenders London that the stop-motion film took 16 years to make and is LAIKA's first PG-13 release, exploring themes of grief and loss. The film opened on October 23, 2026, and its costume department created over 200 custom costumes, Yahoo reported the same month.

What Comes Next for the Bruin

LAIKA and Fathom said they have not yet received confirmation that the screenings have stopped and are continuing to explore their options. The Bruin's website still advertised daily "Wildwood" showtimes as of October 26.